Eco-friendly toothbrush is powered with a twist

Billed as the first battery-free powered toothbrush, a new oral care device has in-built kinetic energy storage and is 100 percent recyclable.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans throw away more than three billion batteries every year, and around half of those are single use alkaline batteries. For those who are concerned about this rampant battery use, we have seen a number of innovations, such as electronics powered by milk and egg white and yarn that can generate electricity from motion. Now a new innovation promises another way to reduce battery use with an electric toothbrush powered by two simple twists.

The Be (Beyond Electric) toothbrush was created by Goodwell Co., which was founded with the goal of creating sustainable oral hygiene products. The toothbrush is made from 90 percent post-consumer material and is 100 percent biodegradable. The brush is powered by a multiplier transmission system. Users give the dial just two full twists and this will deliver 80,000 brushstrokes at a dentist-recommended 120 grams of pressure. The biodegradable bristles contain activated charcoal to balance ph, aid in odor absorption and kill microbes. After two minutes, the brush automatically stops.

Weighing in at 6 ounces and just 6 inches tall, and coming with its own travel case, the Be is marketed as perfect for oral hygiene on the go. The brush is currently being funded through Kickstarter, and has already exceeded its fundraising goal by around 400 percent. Goodwell hope to ship the toothbrush to backers beginning in November 2018 and have it available online the following month. With this product, Goodwell hopes to improve both dental health and the environment. What other health products might also reduce waste?